Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1919)

September 2 j, i 9 i g 2663 " DANGEROUS WATERS" (ROBERTSON-COLE) Fantastic Story Has Shallow Depths A MOST peculiar composition is W illiain Desmond's latest u\ picture. While it oilers nothiuj; new in plot and char^ acterization, there being the familiar conflict of rejected hero endeavoring to win back his sweetheart when she is infatuated with a moral leper, still in its introductory scenes it gives promise of unfolding a note of originality. The setting for the conflict is fantastic since it conthicts the spectator to a banquet where the figures of tlie drama appear in mvthical disguise. Here is Mr. Desmond portraying \ uK>an, the god of thunder. And a husky iron nioidder he makes I This fantastical trend is siu-efire for a time, but it soon grows monotonous. The author, to emphasize this novel twist, has forgotten to add varietv. The result is shallow depths are sounded. Comes the climax with the heroine reaching llie great decision. She has chosen the rotter. It is in the g til fifth reel^uid the thought arises how can it be finished on time since "the drama soars with melodramatic situations. The scene is her boudoir, and Vulcan is dying on the floor, with Adonis as his assassin. A scandal upon the liouse of V enus sure enough. But the author to get out of his predicament utilizes the dre;iin situation. The heroine awakes to a proper realization of things. Mr. Desmond, by sheer force of personality, lifts the story above the iiifdiocre level, and his support is entirely adequate. Ihe picture i splendidly staged. — Length, 3 reels. — Laurence Reid. THE CAST Jimmie MoiUton William Desmond Cora Button Marguerita De La Motte Victor DeLara Arthur Carew Nanette Beatrice LaPlante Mrs. Burton Ida Lewis Dinny O'Moore Walter Perry Judson Wm. P. DeVauII By George Elwood Jenks. Directed by Parke Frame. Supervised by Jesse D. Hampton. PRESS NOTICE— STOR^ William Desmond will be the star at the theatre on of week in his latest picture entitled " Dangerous Waters." This is a sort of depatrture for the star as it takes him out of the boundless West and sets him down in the idle rich society of New York. " Dangerous Waters " IS from the' pen of George Elwood Jenks, while the production has been taken care of under the supervision of Jesse D. Hampton. Mr. Desmond is supported by a brilliant supporting cast that includes such competent players as Marguerita De La Motte, who is appearing opposite the star these days. Arthur Carew, Beatrice La Plante, Ida Lewis and Walter Perry. The picture is a tale of love and selfindulgence in the metropolis. Jimmie Moulton, the character played by Mr. Desmond, has returned to New York after a lengthy sojourn in the West. He belongs to society's inner circle and it is his object to marry Cora Burton, if he can. But she doesn't appreciate Jimmie's fine character because she is temporarily infatuated with Victor De Lara. Her sweetheart had warned her but the chains of dissipation and self-indulgence had made her considerably fickle of heart. After a certain party she decides to make the great decision which is in favor of De Lara. Cora is distinctly shocked when she finds him in the room and as she struggles her old sweetheart, Jimmie, comes to her rescue although he is mortally wounded in his act. Her lover opens his eyes and with his dying breath he confesses that he is in the wrong. Why? Because her reputation is at stake. Then she awakes It is all a dream. She turns to the window to see Jimmie and the sybarite fighting. Yes Jimmie is alive and fiE:hting for her. And so she appreciates him at last. William Desmond is star in the RobertsonCole feature, " Dangerous Waters " she opened her eyes at the same time. A snappy satire on the high-jinks of smart society with a healthy hero, a delectable heroine, and plenty of rousing action. That is ' Dangerous Waters " which comes to this theatre next with William Des mond. CATCH LINES You've seen Bill Desmond in most every kind of character but you never saw him attired as Vulcan, the god of thunder. He attends a banquet of the gods and — See " Dangerous Waters." He had grown tired of society's idle ways so he journeyed West to make a man of himself. Perhaps she would appreciate him then. But when he returned he found her sailing on dangerous waters. What came of it? See " Dangerous Waters." PROGR-AM READER He belonged to one of the first families of New York but because society spelled idleness he went out West to make good. Yes he left his sweetheart behind and thought she would be cured of her infatuation for a certain society butterfly. But when he returned East he found that she was comoletely under the spell of the lovelizard. She was bored and wanted a new thrill. And it came at " The Feast of the Gods." a Bohemian party. The man from the West was attired as Vulcan, the god of thunder, while the sybarite appeared as Adonis. Well Adonis didn't look much like masculine perfection when Vulcan finished with him. StiU the punishment had no effect upon the girl. Indeed Adonis was piloting her into the free-love channels or dangerous waters, when the Westerner woke up. And Come to the theatre next and see the popular Bill Desmond in a highly original role. He appears as Vulcan, the god of thunder. And what do you suppose he does? Why he licks the everlasting tar out of Adonis. Humor and pathos are vital fatcors here. She was young and naturally she hadn't learned how to discriminate between men. She had dismissed Bill Desmond and taken up a sybarite. But Bill came through and — See " Dangerous Waters." A society girl of blood and beauty, she had reached the age of indiscretion. She couldn't make up her mind whether to accept her old sweetheart or the sybarite. Then she dreamed and her eyes were opened eventually to the truth. See " Dangerous Waters." A TEMPERAMENTAL WIFE" I (FIRST NATIONAL) (.oiistance Talmadge Stars in Sparkling Comedy ii \ "■■MI'^''iAMI''^'l'AL W IFE " may be safely put down as /-\ one of the most satisfying comedies of the sea.son. It is made to order for Constance Talmadge, with the result she is never out of character. Like her previous pieces ba.sed upon matrimonial mi\-U|)s. the authors iia\e followed this pattern because it is the only logical thing to d(» where this spirited actress is concerned. She stands alone in the part of a temperamental wife, a runaway brid«'. a lioytlenish girl or what you will. Her parts are all alike in personality, just as Charles Ray's are alike. So she has mellowed them into perfect representations of their kind. She wins a bashful husband here only to lose him because she wants to. A perfectly feminine and temperamental thing to do. .And she p»)Uts because of his indilTerence and a certain stenographer. .And the situations always discernible, but bright and sparkling withal, leap forward with spontaneous action and bubbling mirth. Only at rare inter\'als does the story falter. And it catches its zip with subtitles at these weak points. A frail thing if you want to be analytical, but given life because of imagination, direction and interpretation. The picture is charming of atmosphere. The star is brilliantly supported by Wyndham Standing as the husband. A fini.shed actor, his naturalness draws you into intimate contact. Armand Kalisz is good as an international lounge lizard. — Length. 6 reels. — Laurence Reid. THE C.\ST Billie Billings Constance Talmadge Senator Newton Wyndham Standing Dr. Wise Ben Hendricks Smith E. Jensen The Count Armand Kaliz By John Emerson and Anita Loos. Scenario by John Emerson and Anita Loos. Directed by John Emerson. „ ^ ^ PRESS NOTICE— STORY ^^■V ^ The latest John Emerson-Anita Loos production, " A Temperamental Wife," comes to the theatre beginning . This should interest picturegoers not only because of the talented sponsors who have ^ never failed to write and direct entertaining stories for the screen, but because it presents Constance Talmadge in a typical Constance Talmadge role — a role which brings out all her feminine graces, all her distinctiveness and individuality. / Miss Talmadge portrays the role of Billie / . Billings, a capricious, temperamental young • / woman who is determined to catch the bash M ful bachelor. Senator Newton of Nevada. # He is just her kind of a man, smce he has M a reputation of neither speaking to nor ^ looking at any woman. So she cleverly plays her game and entraps him with mat rr.r.ct=n,-. t^\^^a„^ • i n . rimony. Now the Senator has a secretary Constance Talmadge m her mitial First by the name of Smith. He has never told National offering " A Temperamental Billie that Smith is a woman. But when Wife " the honeymoon is over Billie finds out that her spouse has never told her the truth, u.j ..u ri-r.. ... Hence a quarrel ensues. A quartel whilh V'-f ^^"^ co-authors, John Emerson and Anita leads almost to an estrangement. Billie de , A"/u?;°".„''"T ^^^^ means mands that the secretary be discharged and ^"""l ^'lanous fun. And besides you the Senator is just as determined that Smith etcher in '"'T' x^'^ .J/''??''^^': will remain in his employment Seeher in A Temperamental Wife next "You choose between Smith and me!" , • ^o*" best comedy demands the enraged Billie. And the Sen °' season. ator chooses his secretary. So Billie shuts herself in her room and finds communion of spirit with an international lounge lizard, QTIPPrenrnviC Count Tosoff de Zoolac. She even runs SUtrlrtSllUINS away with him to the Hicksville Inn and ,, , • . registers under his name. So the Senator * -J-^' excellent exploitation you have i> hastens with his secretary to spoil his wife's ,^ temperamental Wife!" First you have pretty game. And Billie establishes her in na.me. of the star, Constance Talmadge, nocence and is downright sorry when she J^"" everyone likes to read about.. Featur* learns that her husband is not interested in ^^'^ argument, every newspaper Smith beyond a secretarial way. So they Jtory Then there are the authors, John depart on a second honeymoon. A splendid Emerson and Anita Loos, who have turned cast assists the star. °ut story after story for a number of screen stars. They are the leaders in their field — PROGRAM RFADFR °f comedy drama. There is a treat rnwij.n.'Alvi nc^AUCn j„ ^^^^y subtitle— every situation. Play The scene was a country hotel at mid them up big because your patrons know night. Wifey had arrived with Count Tosoff what to expect. You don't need to go in de Zoolac and registered under his name, for sensational exploitation here. But you She would show her husband. Senator New can use a good amount of newspaper space, ton, that her heart was not to be tampered teasers, stills, catch lines, and circular with! And hubby artived, not to make a letters, scene, but to be disillusioned. He thought his wife had reached the age of discretion. It. would be well to mail out invitations But he didn't know that he had married a for this picture — it is so high class. Tell temperamental maiden. But he forgave her that it is swhft moving, peppy comedy-drama when he found that she had remained truth of matrimony — of a bold little minx for a ful with him. And she learned not to dis wife and an extremely bashful husband, trust stenographers. Just because this one Have your paper run an article about the worked for another woman's husband was star every day. And see to it that the picno reason that she couldn't have a man of ture is publicized far in advance. Catch her own. Thus Billie learned how to gov lines looks like the proper angle to concenern her jealous fancies. trate upon. And you can write a lot of This is the climax of that zippy, delect clever copy around the title and the plot, able, delightful comedy of a temperamental The catch lines we have written would fit wife, her bashful husband, and a certain excellently in your advertising scheme. The stenographer. It is written by those cele chance is here to clean up. Go to it.